Ownership rights on a database

YNWA

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Hi,

Just something I need to think about but not sure on the answer to.

If someone pays me to design a database, once I handover to them, is that DB there property to do as they wish with?

Only reason I ask is I want to know where i stand with regards to people taking my database designs and selling on to other people as their own with no financial come back to me?

Same applies to my website designs, if i design them, host them and maintain them, can I say that this website is mine even if they paid me to develop/design it?

What are my legal stand points on each?

Thanks
 
I believe it all depends on the contract that you sign with them.. In general, once you have handed over the Design, it technically becomes their product.. They can delete or amend any forms/code/table. If you wish that they should not 'sell' it to others.. Add a small line at your contract saying so.. I do web design, but I do not have that condition on my T's & C's..
 
I believe it all depends on the contract that you sign with them.. In general, once you have handed over the Design, it technically becomes their product.. They can delete or amend any forms/code/table. If you wish that they should not 'sell' it to others.. Add a small line at your contract saying so.. I do web design, but I do not have that condition on my T's & C's..

Thanks. New to all this.

Do you have a copy of your t&c's?

Think is, some of my clients, i have not done contracts for. Clients have been friends or people I know through friends so nothing contract wise drawn up.

Do you have a copy of a contract I could view to get some ideas?

Same to anyone else who is reading this?

Cheers
 
On past experience, DO NOT even for family or friends do work without a contract.. It might sound over dramatic, but I have been done for so many times.. When it comes to business, it is BUSINESS.. so do not let anything come in the way... I am at work now, so I do not have access to my laptop.. but I used the following site for designing my contract.. there are several tips on what to include and what not.. how to word it.. everything you need to know to nail a contract right..

http://speckyboy.com/2010/08/12/5-free-to-use-freelance-design-contract-templates/
Or
A simple checklist : http://www.orion-hitek.com/ItemstoInclude.pdf
 
Thanks very much.

It sort of just happended lik that, didn't plan not to offer one but didn't plan to offer one obviosuly.

I agree though, you never know whats around the corner.
 
When I worked for IBM, I had to sign a document saying that whatever I created in work time was owned by them and not me. You can stipulate as part of the contract that all design elements still belong to you, but the thing is how would you know if they've breached it.
 
generally speaking, If you're being paid by a customer or an employer - your work is owned by the customer when you're fired.

Software isn't copyrightable anyway. If you design a better Word Program - microsoft can't sue.

That's becasue software is like a recipe of different stuff. In cookery you can't copyright a recipe - same with software.

So even if your contract says you get to own the software and be paid too. Anyone can rip off the software - even your employer.

For clarity, I am not suggesting it's okay create a Word programme and sell it as MSWord - that's passing off fake stuff and illegal.
 

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